Chapter 15
HARM DROVE by Derek’s house and through the alley, checking it out the same way he had every day after work. After making sure it was okay, he headed to the library to pick up Derek, who waited out front.
“The board meeting is in two weeks, and I’ve heard that they’ve completed interviewing the outside candidates and they will be making a decision at that meeting.
” He climbed into the truck. “I swear I’d be a shoo-in if all this drama with William wasn’t happening.
The nasty notes have influenced some of the board members, and I know they’re thinking that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
I don’t want the library to become a target for whatever he might pull either.
” He sighed as he pulled the truck door closed. “What am I supposed to do?”
Harm couldn’t answer as he drove, and he really didn’t think Derek was looking for an actual answer anyway. He continued driving through town.
“Where are we going?” Harm shrugged and then flashed Derek a smile. “I take it we’re going out for dinner. Did something happen?” Harm nodded and continued driving. “Are you going to tell me when we get there?” He nodded once more and kept his gaze on the road. “I take it this is a good thing.”
Harm was so excited that he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel until they reached the Italian restaurant near the campus. He pulled in and parked, leading Derek inside and to a table.
“I sent in my applications for college,” he told Derek. “I finished them yesterday and got them all sent out today.” It was a huge step for him. “I stayed up late to get them done.”
“That’s great. Where did you apply?” Derek asked.
Harm pulled out his phone. “Shippensburg, here at Dickinson, and I also applied to Pitt, but that was my last choice. I wanted to apply to three schools. The GI bill will help pay for part of the cost, and from there I’ll have to figure it out or I can hope for some financial aid.
And I’ve decided that I want to study psychology so I can help people like myself through major life changes. ”
Derek kept grinning. “Have you told Joe and Larry?”
He shook his head. “I’ll call them tonight. How long do you think it will be before I hear anything?” Harm was so excited. He knew Joe and Larry were going to be thrilled, but it was a waiting game at the moment.
“Probably three months or so. That’s the hardest part. You spend all that time and effort to get everything in, and then you wait. Have you filled out the GI bill paperwork?”
Harm shook his head. That was next. He had everything that he needed; it was just a matter of completing the paperwork.
“Do you need anything?” Derek asked.
Harm sighed. “I don’t think so. I’ve really wanted to do this on my own, and I think I’m almost there. I know you would help me, but this is part of me taking my life on a new path, and I felt I needed to do this myself. For myself. Do you understand?”
Derek took his hand. “I really do. And I’m proud of you. If you need anything else, let me know, but I think you’ve got this.”
The server approached the table, and Harm ordered by pointing to what he wanted. Derek ordered as well, and they sat back with their drinks. “William was in today. One of the interns handled him and gave him the library version of the bum’s rush.”
Harm leaned forward, using his phone. “You should talk to him the next time.” Derek’s mouth fell open.
“Play him. Get William to admit the things he’s done.
There are cameras in the library, and maybe you can arrange for someone else to hear what he’s saying.
If you can do that, then maybe we can get the police to arrest him.
He’s broken a number of laws, and if he makes threats or anything, then we have him.
” He sent the message. “As much as I hate to say it, but play up to him, make him think he has a chance, and get him to tell you things he probably shouldn’t. ”
Derek nodded slowly. “I think I can do that. But I don’t know when he’ll come in.”
“He shows up at the library at least once a week, so prep some of the people you work with and see if they’ll help you.
” He wished he could be there for backup as well, but that was probably more than he could hope for.
“Otherwise this guy is going to stick around forever. Whatever obsession he has going on, it isn’t going to stop on its own. ”
“That I know. I was thinking about what to do myself, and I came up with nothing. But I can talk to Connie and a few other people at work and see what they think.”
Harm grinned. “They’d probably revel in the chance to do something sneaky.”
“You’re right there. People think we lead boring lives, but we read a lot of books, and they give us some great ideas. Now, I have some other ideas, and they involve you and me, alone… once we’re done with dinner.” His eyes grew deep and dark, and Harm’s insides fluttered with anticipation.
“Eat fast!” he sent and did his best not to squirm with excitement.
HARM ACHED the following morning… in the best way possible.
It seemed Derek had been in a take-charge mood, and Harm wasn’t going to complain about it.
Not for a second. He showered and went to get ready, because the holiday season was in full swing, and that meant that he had the opportunity for overtime.
He took all he could get even if it meant they wanted him at work by six.
So once he was cleaned up, he dressed and returned to the bedroom, where Derek was still sound asleep, wrapped up in the covers.
Harm lightly kissed him goodbye, watching Derek sleep for a few seconds, and then he left the room, going downstairs and quietly leaving the house.
Carlisle was all lit up for the holidays.
Snowflake decorations hung from the light poles and angels graced the square.
All the lampposts were decorated with garlands and lights, and the tree at the old courthouse shone with brightly colored, old-fashioned-looking lights.
A few wisps of snow fluttered down around him.
He smiled and headed west out of town, where darkness still held sway.
He pulled into the parking lot and found a spot, getting out and hurrying inside as the snow began falling in earnest.
He smiled and signed in as colleagues said good morning.
Once he got to his desk, he checked on the things he needed to do and got right out onto the floor, where some of the systems had been having issues.
It took him a few minutes to find the cause, and he replaced a couple of cords that had gotten worn.
“Thanks, Harm,” Annette said as she got back to work, waiting for the scanning guns to finish their downloads before passing them out to her team, who got their order sheets and began the picking process.
Harm checked his iPad and went on to the next issue. Everyone had to work together in order to keep the place running. That was what he had been taught in the service, and he continued that attitude here. Orders needed to go out, and that meant he needed to help keep everyone functioning.
As a general rule, cell phones were not allowed out in the warehouse, but Harm had been granted an exception.
A message came in from Derek that he had arrived at the library without issue.
He sent a quick response back before getting down on the floor, finding where a cord had been severed.
He returned to the office, got another, and then located the exact issue and replaced the broken part. Another department back up and running.
Once his morning issues were resolved, Harm returned to the office above the warehouse floor, where he met briefly with his supervisor and updated, then closed, the work tickets.
“Plenty to do,” Gavin said as they met over coffee.
Harm pulled out his phone. “Yes. But I’m up to date. What do you need me to do next?”
“Just keep everything running. That’s all we can do this time of the year.
There aren’t going to be any software updates or system changes.
Those will be put on hold until after the new year.
So we keep everything functioning, make note of any systemic-type issues we find, and get them reported so they can be fixed after the first of the year.
If you have time, there are training courses that you can take, but it’s the holiday season, so something is always waiting to cause trouble.
” Gavin sipped his coffee, and Harm did the same before he received a message that there was an issue in the loading department.
Harm finished his coffee and left the office, heading out to the far side of the facility.
AFTER FIELDING a number of issues, by lunch Harm was running on empty.
The cafeteria was buzzing, but he ate alone, reading one of the books on signing.
The lunch was okay but nothing to write home about.
Still, he finished what he was doing and threw away his trash before heading out, saying hello to Belle and the others.
“How are you getting along?” Belle asked as he passed.
“Good. I’m learning a lot and getting settled into the job.
How are you? Do you have big holiday plans?
” He was getting the hang of signing, and the thing was, it was beginning to click.
Even when he didn’t know a sign, he was beginning to logically fill in the blanks.
He didn’t always get it right, but many times he did, and that was really rewarding.
“I’m visiting with my family. You’d be welcome if you wanted to join us.” Belle’s offer was really sweet.
“Thank you. I’m still figuring things out.” He smiled and thanked her again before heading out to shipping to handle an issue they’d just reported.